Image
Learning a new skill is food for the brain! Learning a new language improves your memory and decision making skills, chess improves your concentration and painting can even lower the risk of memory loss.
Learn a language
Whether it’s brushing up on your French or picking up Spanish for the first time, learning a new language is known to have many health benefits for your brain including, improved memory, better decision making skills and the improved ability to multi task.
Recommended sites for learning a foreign language:
If you are interested in learning sign language, British Sign are running online courses.
Chess
It’s not just a game about strategy, chess has many health benefits for your brain too as it’s been found to improve creativity, problem-solving, memory, concentration, reading and decision-making skills. If you don’t have your own chess set at home, you can play online here.
Painting
Picking up a paintbrush and painting something creative has many health benefits including improving memory recollection, problem-solving, and motor skills and it lowers the risk of memory loss illnesses in old age. If you are new to painting, you can try a paint by numbers kit or alternatively pick up some paper and a pencil and capture your surroundings through sketching.
Image
Knitting
From jumpers, hats and scarfs knitting is a timeless craft and not only does the outcome produce beautiful, practical garments but knitting has been shown to reduce the risk of mild-cognitive impairment, depression and developing Alzheimer’s disease. It can also boost the reward centres of the brain.
Birdwatching
With bird song becoming clearer in recent weeks, now is one of the best times to start birdwatching and listening out for those beautiful morning calls. Why not learn the song of the robin or distinguish the call of the chaffinch? Learning bird song helps with memory recollection and concentration, listen to 15 of the most common garden birds here.
Image
Drinking tea
Earl grey, English breakfast or green, however you like it we are a nation of tea lovers. Not only does drinking tea regularly have a protective effect against age-related decline but it has also shown to promote healthy cognitive function. Whilst this might not be classed as a new skill some argue the art of creating the perfect cup of tea brewed to perfection requires practice and years of experience… and when have we ever needed an excuse to pop the kettle on and sit down with our favourite cuppa?
